Seemingly determined to keep the Fukushima water issue alive, Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the main opposition party in South Korea, on Thursday met with fishermen who are deeply concerned about Japan’s plan to discharge treated wastewater from the city’s nuclear plant into the sea.
The leader and other officials of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) visited a local market at Gangneung, a coastal city in Gangwon Province, where such worries are especially high.
His move comes at a time when concerns are rising over a million tons of radioactive water set to be released into the Pacific Ocean beginning in the coming weeks. Many in the seafood industry say that they have already been losing customers and fear that this was only the beginning of a more serious business crisis that could unfold when Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) proceeds with the plan.
The same day, Rep. Bae Jin-gyo, floor leader of the minor progressive Justice Party, and other officials departed for Japan, where they plan to hold rallies with the Social Democratic Party of Japan against the “dangerous” release of the water.
Whether or not these fears are unfounded, their consequences have been felt acutely in the market even before the release of the water. The prices of some salt products jumped to record highs recently, triggering panic-buying and prompting authorities to scramble to stabilize them.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has been reviewing the safety of the Fukushima plan, is expected to issue its final report soon. Should no major issues be found, TEPCO will likely implement it thereafter.
However, even if the IAEA guarantees its safety, it won’t likely settle the issue in Korea’s political arena, according to Cho Jin-man, a professor of politics at Duksung Women’s University.
“With the general elections coming in less than a year, the opposition party obviously thinks that highlighting the Fukushima issue would be politically beneficial in a country where anti-Japan sentiment is shared by many,” Cho told The Korea Times. “The campaign is only expected to intensify, with the elections approaching. Factual matters regarding the water would probably be a lesser concern.”
Earlier this week, the Korean Nuclear Society, a respected organization in that scientific field with more than 6,000 members, released a statement criticizing politicians taking advantage of the Fukushima issue for political purposes. It said there is “no possibility” that the water release will have any health impact on Korean seafood consumers. It also proposed a public debate over the issue, saying anyone who thinks otherwise is welcome to join.
The ruling People Power Party (PPP) also strongly denounced the DPK for its “fearmongering.”
“If they cannot trust scientists or a recognized international organization (the IAEA), what do they believe as facts?” PPP floor leader Rep. Yoon Jae-ok said during Thursday’s meeting with officials. “The public remembers the DPK never apologized (for spreading false information) regarding mad cow disease and THAAD deployment.”
His remarks were apparently aimed at DPK politicians, including its chairman, who have raised safety concerns over electromagnetic radiation from the U.S. missile defense system, which set off protests from residents in Seongju County where the installation began in 2017.
On Wednesday, the environment and defense ministries said their environmental impact assessment of the THAAD found electromagnetic radiation levels were well within safety standards, clearing the way for additional infrastructure construction for the system.